Southern Fried Magazine, March 2007

Olga may have been born in Austria, but she’s all Southern now! Olga is the co-owner of a record label in New Orleans, a recording studio in Como, Misssissippi and she lives in Memphis. Olga plays many instruments: guitar, classical violin and piano, drums and washboard (!). Her influences include Memphis Minnie, Peggy Lee and The Grateful Dead. She has performed at the House of Blues.

The Delta sound has definitely filtered into her music: “Your Love Don’t Work Like Mine” is Blues with a rockin’ beat. Deep, throaty vocals -- like Dottie West. “Gotta Keep Movin’” has a Melissa Etheridge sound with Los Lobos beat. That makes sense, as Los Lobos has been one of Olga’s mentors. I’d say this is a good driving song. “Weary” is dark, rocking blues, Bonnie Raitt-like. Good stuff. “Ain’t it a Shame” reminds me of some of those folk songs of the ‘60’s that got translated into English, such as Moscow Nights. It has that balelika sound and choruses that were popular back then. “I Won’t Ask” has a Patti LaBelle, Southern pop sound, if that makes sense. She has a new CD out, “Now is the Time”. This CD really lets you know that she gets it, the genre and how she fits in. The title track is very deep and bluesy. “Weary” has some tough guitar licks. Olga’s husband is Jimbo Mathus, of Buddy Guy and also, Squirrel Nut Zippers fame. Jimbo is working with a lot of indie artists these days besides Olga. He makes his Mississipi presence known on “Ain’t it a Shame”. “Stealin’” has a down-home Delta feel. She has a nice take on “Goin’ Down the Road, Feeling Bad.”

- reviewed by Col. Tamar Alexia Fleishman, www.southernfriedmagazine.com